Hi,
I’m currently running a KTO Rolling Fire campaign. Its day two and the PRC have joined the fray. All the major North Korean airfields have been neutralised and their ground forces are getting a bit of a kicking along the FLOT/FEBA. I’m operating out of OSAN flying a Block 40 F16 and concentrating on AI and CAS missions, generally as a two ship. Its night time.
Suddenly, I’m presented with intermittent RWR jamming symbology. Threat call to AWACS comes back with a pair of Bogeys inbound hot at 35 miles. But no ID. I switch to AA and turn into them slaving the Sniper Pod to the FCR. With no sign of burnthrough I order the wingman to go weapons free, in the forlorn hope he can save the day. Occasional warning chirps from the RWR and then a 22 symbol too close for comfort to the centre of the display. A few seconds later both my wingman and I are toast! Welcome to coming across the 5th Gen J20!
I cravenly discard the mission and slink off to do some research. I find posts covering the problem, which involve “Mad Dogging” your Slammers and getting out of Dodge, tout de bloody suite! I experiment with no result but happily survive. In retrospect, I think I was firing too early to have a hope of success. After a few more failed attempts, frustration sets in and I shift my focus away from North of Seoul to further East where you only have to contend with slightly easier opponents like SU 30s.
All too soon I’m forced by tactical necessity to resume sorties in my original stamping ground. Intel tells me that the J20s have been attritted quite nicely in my absence and there are only 5 left! On my next mission, I run into the target area via a friendly Hawk SAM battery that is conveniently close to to the FEBA. All too soon the tell tale signs of J20s appear from RWR and AWACs. I press for a while but when the dreaded 22 is halfway down the display (AWACS reports them inside 20 nm) I bottle it, split S, and leg it back towards the Hawk battery on full burner in the dive. I get the full blown active missile warning but outrun it. The J20 slowly fades from the RWR and I climb back to altitude. Turning back towards the target area, I rinse and repeat this technique a couple more times.
Finally, I manage to get intermittent locks on the enemy and ID it as a J20 via the Sniper Pod, I press the attack and he isn’t firing (prob out of missiles). I manage to get a solid lock as the range decreases. Switch to DF mode and give him a Slammer to the face at close range. In a panic I discover that he has a wingman in trail. I quickly lock him up and fire but miss. In for a penny I think and hard turn into him in the merge. Surprisingly, he doesn’t put up much of a fight for some reason and I close him down for a guns kill!
Throughout, my wingman had stayed with me like a champ he still even has his GBU 12s , so we nipped over to the FEBA and he dispatched 10 enemy tanks before following me back to OSAN for tea and medals!
On the next mission I dispatched a further J20 using the same technique, leaving only two to contend with as the campaign progresses.
Some final thoughts.
- Don’t fire too early when using Mad Dog. Might be effective at under 20 nm when head on.
- Patience and lots of luck.
- Use AWACs for bearing, range and altitude indications.
- Split S and run for the hills.
- Enemy AI foolishly presses when out of missiles.
- The J20 seems a bit of a handfull and is relatively easy to kill in a DF. (Wishful thinking?)
- The Hawk battery apparently couldn’t see the J20 and never fired. (Makes sense)
Sorry for this massive post, but I thought I would share the experience. If there is anyone out there with other or better techniques to counter the J20, I would be most grateful to hear about them.
This sim continues to awe the hell out of me after all these years. You never stop learning and I’m incredibly grateful to all those who have made it possible.
Regards
Dram.